African Wild Coast Conservation Initiative, South Africa

  South Africa

East London,  Rural Areas

Term: Throughout the year 
Durations of Program: 2-4 weeks and 5-8 weeks
Typical Duration of Program: 2-4 weeks
Dates: From 2 weeks to 8 weeks. Longer placements may be available

Description: The African Wild Coast Conservation Initiative is based at a Private Game Reserve (Big 5 Reserve) where volunteers live and work for the duration of their stay.
This unique game reserve overlooks the Indian Ocean in the malaria free Eastern Cape of South Africa and is home to the Big 5. The diverse landscape allows for a range of African game including rhino, giraffe, zebra, buffalo, wildebeest and Eastern Cape kudu, as well as the African lion and Elephants. Due to the coastal setting of the reserve and the subsequent higher rainfall on the Wild Coast, the reserve has a larger carrying capacity of game in comparison to reserves in lower rain fall areas. The reserve is therefore well stocked and in need of various programs in monitoring and assessing the game within the reserve.

Volunteers will partake in a range of activities that will include:

- Fence patrols for snares and other threats to wildlife
- Elephant interactions at the elephant sanctuary
- Alien vegetation and soil erosion control
- Game counts and wildlife monitoring
- Environmental lectures and wildlife management skills
- African night out under the stars

Highlights: - Working alongside wildlife professionals in an authentic capacity
- Interact with elephants at the Elephant Sanctuary
- Field survival skills
- Camping out in the African bush
- Mammal research and monitoring
- Game counts
- Alien vegetation identification and eradication strategies
- Fire management - an important support system for savannah eco-systems
- Exploration of coastal eco-systems
- Spend a night out under the African sky!
- Southern Kei Cultural Adventure Tour (see orientation details below)

Weekends are designed for you to have free time. There are many adventure activities available in the area if you are looking to be active. Volunteers often book onto the beach horse rides, surfschool or mountain bike rides that happen in the area over weekends. The beach is on your doorstep and offers good swimming, shell collecting, chilling and walking. There is also a pool nearby.

Qualifications: The reserve placements can be physical and often involve long days and therefore interested volunteers should take this into consideration.

Minimum Education: High School

Cost in US$: 4 wks-USD 2760; 6 wks-USD 3510; 8 wks- USD 4280

Experience Required: no

Age Range: Minimum 18 years, maximum of 40 years

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Families, Couples and Individuals

Participants Travel to South Africa Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work in Groups

Application Process Involves:

• Other
• Written Application

African Impact's Mission Statement: African Impact facilitates cultural exchange programmes through volunteer work. We awards you the opportunity to immerse yourselves in local schools, health institutions, communities and wildlife conservation programmes. In this way as a volunteer you are able to leave your mark on a corner of Africa whilst at the same time experiencing a lifestyle that will shift your perspectives and allow you to see our world in a different light. We invite you to join us on a journey to Africa to explore, to inspire and to impact. We invite you to be more than a tourist, but to be a traveller, a conservationist and a humanitarian.

Year Founded: 1999